Towns

SC, USA

Hobkirk's Hill

Lesson plans and classroom materials.

Winning and Losing: Hobkirk's Hill and the Logic of Greene's Campaign

8-12 · 2-3 class periods

What you'll get

  • 5 primary sources with analysis prompts
  • Quiz with answer key (5 questions)
  • 3 printable handouts
Print full packet
8-122-3 class periodsCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysisCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.9: Compare and contrast treatments of the same topic in primary and secondary sourcesD2.His.1.9-12: Evaluate how historical events were shaped by unique circumstances

Learning Objectives

  1. Students will distinguish between tactical and strategic outcomes in military history
  2. Students will analyze Greene's strategic logic for the southern campaign using his own words
  3. Students will evaluate Rawdon's decision to abandon Camden as a strategic rather than tactical choice
  4. Students will apply the tactical/strategic distinction to other historical examples

Essential Questions

  • What is the difference between winning a battle and winning a campaign?
  • What did Greene mean by "We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again" — and was he right?
  • Why did Rawdon abandon Camden after winning the battle?

Procedure

Primary Sources

General Nathanael Greene to the President of Congress: Battle of Hobkirk's Hill, April 27, 1781

National Archives and Records Administration · PRIMARY · Tier 1 — Primary/Academic

Lord Rawdon to Sir Henry Clinton: Dispatch on Hobkirk's Hill, April 1781

Public Record Office (National Archives, United Kingdom) · PRIMARY · Tier 1 — Primary/Academic

The Papers of General Nathanael Greene, Vol. VIII: Hobkirk's Hill and Camden

University of North Carolina Press (Dennis M. Conrad, ed.) · PRIMARY · Tier 1 — Primary/Academic

Pension Applications: Hobkirk's Hill Veterans, 1820s

National Archives and Records Administration · PRIMARY · Tier 1 — Primary/Academic

Historic Camden: Hobkirk's Hill Interpretive Resources

Historic Camden Foundation · INSTITUTIONAL · Tier 1 — Primary/Academic

View source

Handouts & Materials

Hobkirk's Hill Event Timeline

timeline

Students place key events in chronological order and add details

Primary Source Analysis

graphic organizer

Structured analysis of Revolutionary-era documents

Key Figures Profile

worksheet

Research template for Revolutionary figures

Hobkirk's Hill in the American Revolution

Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history.

1.

What makes Hobkirk's Hill significant in Revolutionary history?

AIt was the site of important Revolutionary events
BIt had no connection to the Revolution
CIt was founded after the Revolution
DIt was a British stronghold throughout the war
2.

Primary sources are documents or objects created during the time period being studied.

TTrue
FFalse
3.

Name one event that occurred in Hobkirk's Hill during the Revolutionary period and explain its significance.

4.

Why is it important to consider multiple perspectives when studying history?

ADifferent people experienced events differently
BIt makes history more confusing
COnly one perspective is ever correct
DPerspectives don't matter in history
5.

Describe one connection between this town and another Revolutionary-era town we discussed.